Bill Meltzer’s Flyers blog is brought to you by Phans of Philly, by Lights On Electric, by New Balance of Mount Laurel, and by Summit Public Adjusters.
The Philadelphia Flyers had a team-wide off day on Tuesday. Initially, head coach Rick Tocchet planned to have three straight practice ahead of Thursday’s home game against the St. Louis Blues. However, the coach ultimately decided to give the team the day off on Tuesday. Practice resumes at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the FTC in Voorhees. Thursday’s game Hockey Fights Cancer night in Philadelphia.
My colleague and friend Jason Myrtetus will drop the ceremonial opening faceoff before Thursday’s game. Jason bravely went public last year with his battle against colorectal cancer. He’s been winning his fight, although one is not truly “done” with periodic scans and doctor appointments. Additionally, goaltenders Samuel Ersson and Dan Vladar will wearing special Hockey Fights Cancer masks during warmups designed by local kids battling cancer.
Last year, in honor of Hockey Fights Cancer, the Flyers signed Owen Miccich (nine at the time) to an honorary contract. Owen took part in last year’s Hockey Fights Cancer activities prior to the game and met with all of the players.
Adam Ginning Agrees to Conditioning Loan
Flyers defenseman Adam Ginning agreed to a two-week conditioning loan to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Tuesday. The player need not pass through waivers to be eligible for such a loan but must agree to it. His salary is paid as if he’s in the NHL, and the player counts both against the salary cap and the 23-man roster limit during his absence.
Ginning last dressed in the October 25 game against the New York Islanders. Overall this season, he has played five regular season games. Meanwhile, Emil Andrae and Egor Zamula have dressed in eight games apiece. Zamula last played on November 2 against the Calgary Flames. Andrae (two assists, +3) has played in each of the last six games including 18 minutes in St. Louis last Friday and 21:12 in Dallas on Saturday.
Mel Bridgman memorial fund
Former Flyers captain Mel Bridgman passed away unexpected on November 6, 2025, due to heart failure. He was 70. Mel’s family has organized a memorial fund in his honor. All proceeds go to advanced CTE research and disability related causes. These issues were near and dear to Mel’s heart. In his later years, Mel had mobility-related issues as well as hearing loss after he suffered a stroke.
Family was Mel Bridgman’s greatest passion.He loved being a grandfather and preferred to talk about them or his children rather than his own hockey career. He was predeceased by his parents, Richard and Mary, and his brother Dick. Mel is survived by his sister Mary Ann, three sons (Geoff, Pat and Jamie), daughter Christine, their spouses, and three grandchildren (Celeste, Hudson, and Oliver). Mel coached all three of his sons’ youth hockey teams as they grew up.
Travel was another passion for Mel Bridgman. He lived in California and British Columbia after his playing and front office (inaugural Ottawa Senators general manager) careers. He also spent a three-year stint living in Medellin, Colombia. During his playing days, he fulfilled a promise to his parents of getting a college education. He attended classes in the offseasons. Later, he completed an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
After his tenure as the Senators general manager, Bridgman worked for a time as a hockey player agent. He later worked for Smith Barney as an investment advisor.
Win a Flyers’ West Coast Trip for Two
In conjunction with our friends at Phans of Philly and Nasty Knuckles, the official Flyers Fan Club will give away a trip for two to see the Flyers play in Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Jose in March 2026. The Fan Club has an information table set up on the lower concourse of Xfinity Mobile Arena at every Flyers home game. To join the Flyers Fan Club and enter for your chance to win a West Coast Road Trip package for two, visit their station on a game day or go online here.
Flyers Daily: Special guest John Snowden
Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach John Snowden joined host Jason Myrtetus for Wednesday’s 30-minute edition of the Flyers Daily podcast. Snowden offered his impressions of the Phantoms start to the season. Meanwhile, he provided his viewpoints on many individual Phantoms players and their development course. Jason and “Snowy” also discuss players’ system development in all three zones. When players get to the parent team, Rick Tocchet expects off-puck contributions on top of role-related point production. Snowden talks about the importance of contributing over the entire 200-foot ice surface.
Hammered: The Fight of My Life
It was my honor and pleasure to assist Dave “The Hammer” Schultz and writer Dan Robson with portions of Schultzy’s new book, Hammered: The Fight of My Life. The book was a very open and brave undertaking by Dave. There’s a lot of personal pain, trauma and self-reflection on its pages as well as lighter and happier stories. Ultimately, it’s a book about redemption and finding peace with oneself. Those have been Dave’s toughest opponents.
My role in the project: I worked together with Bernie Parent on the book’s foreword. I assisted on the book’s chapters about Dave’s on-ice career and fellow Broad Street Bullies. I also helped with the LA Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres. I helped Dave and Dan craft sections on Schultzy’s Flyers Hall of Fame induction and 50th anniversary Cup team reunion. Dave and I put together an “Enforcers’ Hall of Fame” appendix chapter. Lastly, I wrote an afterword (ultimately cut for space) spliced from several one-on-one conversations with Dave.
The book has received good reviews so far. I hope it sells well, too, for those guys. Dave will do various signing events and interviews to promote it. There is also an audiobook version. For a free sample — the Bernie Parent foreword and the first few pages of Chapter One — see below.
